"The United States and Canada will provide most of the increase in global non-OPEC oil production over the next two years," Adam Sieminski, EIA administrator, said in his short-term energy outlook that was released Tuesday.

Guzzle up, you gas hogs.

For many homeowners who depend on natural gas to power their hot-water heaters, there will be little incentive to take short, tepid showers.

Nor will there be any greater incentive for them to return to the good ol' days, string up clotheslines in their back yards, and join Darryl Hannah's campaign to hang more freshly washed, wet laundry outdoors to dry.

Natural gas prices are falling, Mr. Sieminski said.

Lather up and enjoy, people. Stick that laundry in your gas-powered dryer.

"Natural gas production growth this year and mild weather have contributed to stronger gas injections into storage and lower gas prices this summer," Mr. Sieminski said.

"Natural gas storage injections continue on pace for a record refill of 2.6 trillion cubic feet by the end of October. EIA is raising its forecast for onshore marketed natural gas production this year and in 2015, and lowering its natural gas price outlook,“ he said.

Of course, nobody's really encouraging anyone to waste energy.

It is, indeed, good news that - in at least some ways - our standard of living has become more stabilized less than six years after the near-global economic collapse following the Wall Street crisis of 2008.

But let's be honest.

The lack of conservation is what creates shortages in the first place.

We have a history of anything but wise-use of energy in this country, being the world leader in per capita use of electricity and second only to China in overall greenhouse gas emissions.

It'd be nice to think our habits are starting to change or we're phasing in more energy-efficient devices.

The reality is this country is chugging along without a cohesive national energy plan and wondering why our enormous greenhouse-gas footprint is exacerbating climate change - that is, those of us who have accepted the science of climate change in the first place.

We're wondering why vital regions of the country such as the western Lake Erie watershed are feeling effects of climate change with more frequent and intense thunderstorms - and more toxic algae.

Remember how some conservatives have scoffed at renewable energy since the 1970s, claiming it is some wacko concept former President Jimmy Carter was forcing on the American public, would never work and - even if it could - was too impratical?

Get this: For the first time ever, the amount of U.S. electricity generated by wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, and other renewable sources is expected to exceed the total generated by dams and other forms of hydropower this year.

A small portion of the $600 million Blue Creek Wind Farm in northwest Ohio's Van Wert and Paulding counties. Photo courtesy of Iberdrola Renewables.

Together, all sources of renewables - including hydropower - will account for 13 percent of electricity supplies in 2014, with future growth in non-hydro renewables expected to keep outpacing that of dams and other forms of hydropower, the EIA said.

And, last time I checked, we became less reliant on foreign oil and phased in more renewables - and, thus, improved our national security - without upending our lives.

That's not as exciting to people as lower gas prices or longer showers, but it's a good sign.

Mr. Sieminski also noted how sensitive these energy markets are to each other.

Earlier this year, he said, the slight increase in natural gas fuel costs encouraged the electricity industry to use more coal for power generation and less natural gas - contrary to what President Obama is trying to have happen in the future with tougher U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules on coal-fired power plants to help reduce greenhouse gases.

Now, the natural gas-to-coal markets are stabilizing.

"Natural gas prices have moderated in recent months, slowing the projected shift to coal-fired generation for the rest of the year. Coal's share of U.S. electricity generation in the second half of 2014 will average almost 41 percent compared with about 39 percent last year," Mr. Sieminski said.

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"Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads." - Henry David Thoreau

About Ripple Effect

Every pollution battle ultimately comes down to mankind's desire to better itself while protecting its sense of home. In this blog, Blade Staff Writer Tom Henry looks at how Great Lakes energy-environmental issues have a ripple effect on our public health, our natural resources, our economy, our psychological well-being, and our homespun pride.

About Tom Henry

Tom Henry is an award-winning journalist who has covered primarily energy and environmental issues the past two decades. He is a member of the national Society of Environmental Journalists, one of North America's largest journalism groups.